Special Meeting to Address Alleged Violations by David Perry

Special Meeting Set to Address Alleged Policy Violations by Board Member

New Hanover County’s Board of Education has taken a significant step in addressing concerns about policy violations by one of its members, David Perry. During an agenda review meeting on Tuesday night, the board voted 6-1 to hold a special meeting to discuss the alleged breaches of conduct by Perry. The lone vote against the motion came from Perry himself.

The special meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 4 at 1 p.m. The decision was introduced by Pat Bradford, who emphasized the importance of accountability and ethical behavior among all board members. She stated that the issue at hand involves ensuring that no member operates above the rules that apply to others.

According to Bradford, Perry allegedly violated confidentiality policies by sharing information discussed during a closed session of a previous board meeting. The discussion in question pertained to a parent’s appeal regarding a student assignment decision. After the appeal was approved, Perry contacted the parent, referring to them as an acquaintance rather than a close friend. He claimed he was trying to be “nice,” but now feels “crucified” for the communication.

Bradford argued that this responsibility should have fallen on another board member, not Perry. She pointed out that by discussing matters from the closed session, Perry breached the confidentiality policy. “There has to be accountability,” she said. “That’s all this is about, is accountability.”

Perry, however, described his actions as an “honest mistake.” Despite this, other board members have raised concerns about his recent behavior. On Tuesday, Perry used strong language to describe several board members as “jacka**es” following a vote against an ad-hoc committee he proposed to provide bonuses to district employees.

Earlier in July, during a policy committee meeting, Perry made a controversial comment about families “sucking off welfare and expecting preferential treatment” during a discussion on the district’s lottery school assignment process. This statement drew immediate criticism from Judy Justice, and Perry later apologized for how he expressed his views, though he maintained his stance on criticizing the system and dependency on government assistance.

Perry criticized the special meeting as “overkill,” suggesting it stemmed from personal politics. He specifically mentioned feeling disdain from some members due to his vote against an artificial intelligence pilot program earlier this year. As a Republican, he claims he has faced harsher treatment since joining the board because he is a free thinker. However, Bradford denied any personal tensions influenced the decision to hold the meeting.

This situation is not the first time the board has addressed similar issues. In April, the board voted 5-2, along party lines, to censure Tim Merrick over concerns about violating confidentiality policies. Bradford noted that she has observed changes in Merrick’s demeanor and attitude since that vote and hopes for a similar outcome following next week’s special meeting.

“We can’t have a double standard between board members, where you can act badly but I can’t,” Bradford stated.

Perry left the agenda review meeting before it concluded, visibly frustrated with the decision to hold the special meeting. Outside the Board of Education Center, he expressed uncertainty about his next steps, stating that it would be difficult to move past what he perceives as being singled out for the past few months.

The special meeting could result in penalties for Perry, including a potential censure vote and the removal of his committee assignments. The board’s actions reflect a broader effort to maintain integrity and enforce consistent standards among its members.